Meet Samantha

I first came across this book about fifteen-years ago when I was in the fourth grade. It was library day, and this was the book that I picked to read. I read the first chapter in the library, and spent the remainder of the day hiding the book underneath my desk, so my teacher wouldn't notice that I was reading. I got caught anyway. Anyway, this is a great collection about a weathly nine-year-old girl named Samantha who is growing up in the year 1904. In the first chapter we learn that her grandmother is raising her because her parents were killed in a motorboat accident. We learn more about that tragedy later on in the Samantha book series. One day Samantha sees a girl about her age doing the laundry at the house next door. Samantha's neighbors are also well to do, and they have a spoiled son named Eddy, who likes to tease Samantha. After Samantha talks to this girl she finds out that her name is Nellie, and that her family sent her to work as a servant girl because in New York City Nellie was working long hours in a dusty, factory. This was before child labor laws. Another thing that Samantha witnesses is that her grandmother's seamstress, Jessie has left her job. Jessie, nor her grandmother will tell her why. One night, Nellie and Samantha hatch a plan to go to Jessie's house to find out why. In the next chapter you get to deal with racism in the early 20th century. I think this is a wonderful book for a parent to buy, and read to their kids. The book tells a story about a young girl growing up in the early 20th century. It gives a lesson about child labor, and paints a picture of racism. The child will learn that these two subjects are very wrong. I just hope that one day the books in this series are not edited like so many of the classics have been.

Meet Samantha is an excellent book. It is about a young girl whose parents died when she was 5 years old. Now she lives in the country with her grandmother. Samantha's grandmother does not like to make changes. Samantha meets a young girl named Nellie who is working for another family next door. Nellie's parents and two sisters live in the city and work at a factory. The suggested reading level is ages 7 and up but I think that the Samantha series is wonderful for anyone.

This book is excellent. I am 24,I read these books when I was 8 or 9. Now that my daughter is 7, I thought it would be a good time to get her started. I bought her the entire series, she picked up the first book, Meet Samantha, she loved it. For the next few days every time you saw her she had her nose stuffed in a book. On a recent trip to Mass. she wouldnt leave without her books. Now she is even asking me to get her the series with Felicity. She loves them just as much as I did. Any book that can get a child to want to read is an excellent one in my opinion. Also, in the back of each of the books there is a bit of real history dating back to the time of when the book takes place (ie. Samantha in 1904, Molly,1944) These books you will be 150% satisfied with! GUARENTEED!

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Samantha Parkington, a nine-year-old orphan girl living with her wealthy grandmother in the America of 1904. In this first book of the series, Samantha begins to learn about the world outside of her opulent house; she learns of the yawning inequalities that separate race, class and sex. Through it all, Samantha works on her needlepoint sampler that bears the simple motto "Actions speak louder than words," and Samantha puts that motto to work.This is an excellent book, with a wonderful story, excellent illustrations, and a great lesson. After each reading session, my daughter and I would have discussions about racism, child labor, and a host of other topics. I do think that this is an excellent introduction for children into some of the darker aspects of American history. We recommend it wholeheartedly.

This was the first book that I read out of the American Girls Collection. I have read most of the others now, but this one is still my favorite. Samantha is a very nice and caring girl and this book is really worth reading.